USS Canopus (AS-34) is a tender of the Simon Lake Class. Her keel was laid on March 2, 1964. Canopus was launched on February 12, 1965, at Ingalls Shipbuilding Corporation in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Mrs. Earl L. Sackett, wife of the World War II Commanding Officer of the first Canopus (AS-9) broke the traditional bottle of champagne in her role as sponcer. Canopus was completed and delivered to the Navy in record breaking time on October 25, 1965.
USS Canopus joined Submarine Squadron 18 at Charleston, South Carolina and was Commissioned on November 4, 1965 with the Honorable Grahme C. Bannerman Assistant Secretary of the Navy as principal speaker. Her first Commanding Officer was Captain John M. Barrett, United States Navy. After a short outfitting period Canopus sailed for the Caribbean on January 7, 1966. Canopus visited Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for shakedown training. She returned to Charleston Naval Shipyard on February 24th for the usual post shakedown work to correct construction deficiencies.
In mid April 1966, Canopus completed her acceptance trials and visited Norfolk to assist in the upkeep of Submarine Squadron 6 submarines. She then returned to Charleston for the final loading and outfitting prior to deployment to the Cooper River FBM Replenishment Site IV on June 24th as a unit of Submarine Squadron 18 where she was employed refitting the units of the Squadron until September 1966.
On September 24, 1966, Canopus deployed from Charleston, South Carolina arriving in Lisbon, Portugal for several days of liberty and then arriving in Rota, Spain on October 10th. Canopus relieved the USS Holland (AS-32) and reported to the Commander of Submarine Squadron 16 for duty. While at Rota, Canopus accomplished more Polaris refits than any other submarine tender in a comparable amount of time.
On April 20, 1969, Canopus was relieved by the USS Holland (AS-32) and sailed for Bremerton, Washington via the Panama Canal with a liberty stop in San Francisco, California for several days. In Bremerton, the Canopus was extensively overhauled and thereby gained the title of the first submarine tender in the United States Navy capable of refitting and maintaining a submarine with the Poseidon Missile System.
After completion of this overhaul, Canopus sailed for Holy Lock, Scotland via the Panama Canal. In May 1970, she relieved the USS Simon Lake at Holy Lock. She reported to the Commander of Submarine Squadron 14. Canopus remained in Holy Lock until November 1975. During this time, Canopus was instrumental in establishing several new maintenance concepts while completing, on schedule, every submarine refit during the 67 months at Holy Lock. During the last year at Holy Lock, Canopus received numerous awards including the Ney Award for the best large Mess afloat, the second consecutive Battle Efficiency "E", the CINCLANTFLT Golden Anchor Award for personnel retention, and the Navy Unit Commendation for her role in the first FBM Submarine Extended Refit Period.
In 1976, the Canopus underwent an extensive refit at Charleston Naval Shipyard and returned to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba for refresher training. The Canopus returned to Rota, Spain in December 1976. As a result of the shipyard overhaul in Charleston, Canopus brought new and improved capabilities to Rota for the support of Submarine Squadron 16.
In June 1979, the Canopus disestablished Site II at Rota and without skipping a beat, resumed operations at Naval Station, Charleston, South Carolina, relieving the USS Simon Lake. January 1980, the Canopus got underway and went 200 miles off the coast to conduct drills. In March 1980, Canopus continued to serve with distinction as a unit of Commander Submarine Squadron 18 until November 1983. While Canopus was at Site IV she received the Commander, Submarine U.S. Atlantic Fleet BIG BOY awards. In 1984 after being relieved by the USS Holland (AS-32), the Canopus underwent an overhaul at Charleston naval Shipyard for an extensive overhaul and conversion period. After the successful overhaul period and refresher training and shakedown at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Canopus returned on line as "THE TOP TENDER" in March 1985. During July 1985, Canopus relieved the USS Simon Lake (AS-32) at Site VI, Canopus provides the repair, supply and support services necessary to keep thje assigned submarines of Squadron 16 on station and ready at all times.
Since reporting to Site VI, Canopus has excelled and has earned two major CINCLANFLT BIG BOY awards and two consecutive Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Battle Efficiency "E" awards for FY '86 and FY '87 as the best FBM Submarine Tender in SUBLANT.
The period between 1968 through 1990 is missing at this time.
The Canopus was located at Kings Bay, Georgia during the early 1990's. In 1994, the Canopus sailed for Norfolk, Virginia in October 1994 after 29 years of dedicated service.
The USS Canopus was struck from the Naval Register on May 3, 1995. Her final disposition, title transfer to MARAD, was on May 1, 1999, for lay up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, Virginia, fate unknown.
USS Canopus (AS-34) stands ready and able to provide needed support to the Atlantic Submarine Fleet and continues to live up to her motto:
"READY TO SERVE, READY FOR SERVICE"
